The ShadowMusic Web Community

A friend sent me this little item - not sure if its been aired on here before but here we go -

A punter rings a local band and asks what they would charge for a gig he is organising - the band member gives him the required fee to which the guy says "HOW MUCH?" and goes into shock, saying thats way too much for a one night gig!

The band member then suggests the guy rings up a local plumber and asks him the cost of supplying 4 plumbers on a Saturday night from 6pm until midnight! He says whatever the quote the band will play for half of that!

Had years of that sort of thing, they want something for nothing.

All their crafty ways to save money like ''have you first time for free to see if you are any good'' and at the end of the night, ''Your good, ring me tomorrow'' and when you ring, ''I just had a look and the diary, it's full for this year'' and then when next year comes he has moved on.

Another one is ''The pub isn't making much money'' and next thing you know they are taking their family to Disneyworld. They also have a new car out the back.

Musicians have a lot of expenses with equipment being overpriced and spend a lot of hours rehersing to make the show go perfectly.

I once rang a club and a woman at the other end said sarcastically, ''I wish I could stand there and sing for a couple of hours for that money!'' so I said, ''Nothing to stop you''.

Unfortunately there are scabs who will do it for next to nothing or even nothing, ruining it for the rest of us.

Undercutting devalues live entertainment.

Very true! People only seem to take into account the time you spend on stage! Travel time and set up/pack up takes longer often than the time on stage!
What used to get to me was that Working Mens and Social clubs would ask you to do a freebie for some worthy charity, but never offered to donate the nights bar profits! We used to say "pay us our normal fee and we will donate that to the charity"
They never took up that option!

I've accepted gigs for nothing, hoping to prove popular and being able to negotiate a fee for a repeat performance.

When this happens, the answer comes back "Well, you did it for free last time!"

Do pubs give free meals to first time customers? I don't think so.
Its no different.

Hello "Professionals"!

I rather resent being referred-to as "A scab"!, and would guess that there are other members of this forum who "Do great work for chariddeee" who feel the same.

I guess that you also decry folks who go out on a Sunday afternoon to play golf just because they enjoy it, or people who do their own decorating (I've just washed-up my brushes after finishing my latest project) for taking the bread out of professional decorators mouths, eh?

In the ten years that "Life Story" have been playng, we've raised money for Help for Heroes & British Heart Foundation, to name but two, and entertained vulnerable elderly people and folks with learning difficulties, without payment of any kind.
Why? Because we enjoy the music, enjoy maintaining & playing our instruments, enjoy meeting people, and enjoy each others company. If you will, it is our version of paying-out hard-earned cash to play golf, go sailing, etc etc.

Neither do we either seek, or claim-to, populate the "moral high ground" in comparison with more commercial outfits.

I am sorry if you "Professionals" see all this as some kind of threat, but very much doubt that ANY of our Gigs have prevented you earning your living, or "devalued live entertainment" - on the contrary, gigs that we have done in support of local community theatres have helped to MAINTAIN live entertainment (and not only musical entertainment, either) in places that would otherwise cease to exist.

There is no doubt that the "sharp practices" by bookers that you mention exist (they certainly did back in the day when I DID play for money) and I am in no way condoning them. However, in the rather narrow field of Shadows-style music, if you "get rid" of the enthusiastic amateur, there would be precious little left!

Surely, there is room for the professional AND amateur in any field of endeavour, so why not leave-out the rather childish (no pun intended!) name-calling, and "Live and let live", eh?

Regards
Paul.
(Now..............where's my Tin Hat?)

With respect, Paul, I think you have missed the point.

There is nothing wrong with bands or musicians who give up their time to play for charity, as these are genuine efforts to help others.

The problem is pub landlords, etc, who use the charity motive as an excuse to get free entertainment in their premises and who do not really contribute to the charity themselves.

Over several years, I have played at genuine charity events and it has been obvious that the funds have been contributed in the correct way.

I think that Paul's use of the expression "scabs" was a bit strong, although I do understand what he meant about people who play "for the beer" and spoil it for other entertainers who have to cover their costs, even though they may only be semi-professional musicians.

My band, which had been together for 12 years or so, finally fell by the wayside due to lack of work..............ie. About once a week, which was enough to fit in around work, down to once in 6 months if we were lucky and we certainly weren't the only ones to lose out in this area.

Pat.

Here in France it is a similar problem; where we used to play two or three times a week, we now are lucky to play once a month. It's the 'open mic' nights that have caused it. Landlords can get a full house as a musician will bring along his friends (who all think he is fantastic) and all it costs the landlord is a pint (or over here; a' petit vin rouge'!!)

A far cry form the sixties isn't it ?
A gig a night ( or booking as it was then for me )
Happy days.

Paul didn't miss the point here at all, his comments were spot on ( cries of "you would say that wouldn't you")
The point is that musicians were referred to as scabs if they play for no financial payment.Paul is NOT a scab and use of that is not ' a bit strong' it is totally out of order!
The days of playing in pubs has generally gone, particularly for bands, people don't go to pubs like they used to if you want to make money out of performing you have to keep up with the times and look for other venues.
It is true that there are landlords out there who will use the 'charity' name to get bands to play for nothing, frankly if you get caught out by that then you deserve everything you get.
If you are setting out to be at all professional, semi or not then you have to act like it, it's a business so be businesslike. All businesses have to protect profit.
If you are good at what you do, have a good reputation and work hard you will get the work, if you sit back and say it's not like it used to be you won't
There are many professionals who make a good living from performing, there are semi professionals who get all the work they can handle, if thats not you ( as they say in Yorkshire) tha's not doin it reight